The materials group, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 2.3 percent.

Potash Corp fell 1.8 percent to C$23.33 after two days of gains tied to the announcement of merger talks between it and Agrium Inc. Farmers plan to pressure regulators to protect their interests in any deal.

Shares in First Majestic Silver Corp declined 2.5 percent to C$15.41 after a hedge fund disclosed a short position in the stock. (Additional reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by Phil Berlowitz and James Dalgleish)